River Queen On The Rhine River Photo courtesy of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise CollectionFloating Luxury – Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Julie Kalan February 23, 2015 9326 Step aboard one of the Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection ships and you are stepping into a world of absolute luxury: from the handcrafted beds by Savoir® of England, to marble bathrooms and exclusive excursions. Extraordinary Travels For centuries the Danube, Main, Rhine, Moselle, Rhône, Saône, Seine, Po, and Douro rivers were the economic lifeblood of Europe. Cultural and economic centers grew along these waterways. The Uniworld Boutique River Cruises bring guests right into the heart of these amazing capital cities, quaint towns and medieval villages on their 32 European itineraries. One Room…A Thousand Views S.S. Antoinette Cat 1 Stateroom Photo courtesy of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Every one of Uniworld’s ships has been uniquely appointed by a world-class team of design professionals from their sister company, Red Carnation Hotels. The one of a kind interiors are furnished with sumptuous fabrics, grand chandeliers, bold colours, and even some original works of art by Chagall, Picasso and Matisse. At a recent informational event, I had the opportunity to meet Adrien Leggate and Rik Sprengers, two Cruise Managers who champion the staff credo of “No request too large, no detail too small”. Reflecting this concept and their commitment to attentive hospitality, Uniworld has the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry. All-Inclusive Bespoke Experiences S.S. Catherine Restaurant Every guest is different, so with that mind guests can personalize their shore excursions by selecting Choice is Yours, Go Active, Do as the Locals Do, or Gentle Walking options. Choose to attend one of the evening Signature Lectures or enjoy a drink in a quiet nook. They even have bicycles and Nordic walking sticks available for onshore use. A smorgasbord of dining options offers something to please every palette. Authentic cuisine is cooked to order using fresh ingredients from ports of call, and delectable homemade cakes are served with afternoon tea. The delectable highlight of most cruises is a river cake, featuring a map of the route displayed in icing! On board meals, including epicurean dinners featuring regional specialties, and all beverages, including fine wines and spirits, are included in the price on all European cruises. As are all the local expert-hosted shore excursions. One such shore excursion that is offered exclusively to Uniworld guests is an evening visit to St. Mark’s Basilica, in Venice. Just imagine walking through this serene sanctuary after all the crowds have left. S.S. Catherine Van Gogh Lounge Further Afield If you are looking for something a bit more exotic, you can float down the Nile in Egypt, the sacred Ganges in India, the Yangtze in China, the Mekong in Cambodia and Vietnam, or the Volga in Russia aboard luxury Uniworld Boutique River Cruise ships. Cruise to Remember The only difficult part of your Uniworld river cruise is deciding which itinerary to pick. The cruise consultants at Expedia CrusieShipCenters have the skills to help you select your perfect trip. Call or drop by one of their four locations: Downtown Montreal (514) 848-9791 www.cruiseshipcenters.com/Montreal Beaconsfield (514) 630-9600 www.cruiseshipcenters.com/Beaconsfield Dollard-des-Ormeaux (514) 421-7006 www.cruiseshipcenters.com/DDO Dorval (514) 556-3115 www.cruiseshipcenters.com/Dorval Good to Know: If you have traveled with one of Uniworld’s sister companies in the past you may be eligible to receive a previous guest discount. River Queen On The Moselle River All photos courtesy of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection